Despite travelling through much of Southeast Asia and living in Sydney, which is just an 8.5-hour direct flight away from the Philippines, up until recently, I’d never visited. Photos of its green and blue, clear waters, punctured by jutting rock formations, had long littered my Instagram Explore page. It was on my list to visit.
I jumped at the chance to visit when Cebu Pacific Air, one of the country’s four main airlines, invited me to try their Sydney to Manila (an 8.5-hour flight) and Manila to Coron (an 80-minute flight time) routes.
I’d heard of islands Boracay and El Nido, but never of Coron. Later, I learned it’s best known for its snorkelling and diving with 12 sunken shipwrecks from World War II nearby — and one of the country’s 7,641 islands.
It was the first learning of many on the trip. I’m sharing the rest — things I’d wish I’d known before heading to the Philippines — here, along with some tips from a local, Roxanne Gochuico, corporate social responsibility manager at Cebu Pacific.
Choose Your Island
As mentioned, the Philippines is an archipelago comprised of 7,641. The capital Manila is on the island of Luzon and where most international flights fly into.
If you were only able to visit three islands, Cochuico recommends Boracay, known for its long stretch of powdery white sand beaches, Siargao, which has some of the nation’s best surfing, and Palawan, where Coron is located, home to World War II wreck diving sites and stunning rock formations.
“After Coron, you could explore other nearby islands like El Nido and Puerto Princesa,” says Gochuico. “Or you could extend your stay in Manila to see museums and experience nightlife in Bonifacio Global City and Poblacion Makati.”
Know the Modes of Transport
The primary shared transport modes in the Philippines are Grab, jeepneys, ferries and Metro railway trains. Grab is a ride-share app like Uber popular in Southeast Asia. You don’t need a local number to use it, just Internet access.
Jeepneys are unique to the Philippines and have become a national symbol. The most popular public transport, jeepneys are small buses, often colourfully decorated. Jeepney stops along streets aren’t clearly marked, but they’ll show up on Google Maps, so stand in the vicinity and keep your eyes peeled.
Aside from flights, ferries and sea transfers are the other – more affordable and scenic – ways to get between islands. The main ferry types are RoRo, which stands for ‘roll-on, roll-off’ and let you bring your car or motorbike onboard, Fastcraft, which is on the luxe end, Passenger lines, which carry hundreds of travellers and bangka, small motored boats used for short distance trips and island-hopping tours.
The metro in Manila is called Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRTS) has one line and 13 stations., though it has plans to expand soon.
Try Filipino Fast Food Chian Jollibee
Most Philippines would agree that you can’t visit without dropping into a Jollibee, the largest fast-food chain in the nation, serving fried, burgers, pies and spaghetti at around 1,150 outlets.
The must-try dishes are Jollibee’s Famous Chickenjoy, the Yumburger and Jolly Spaghetti. For dessert, try the Ube Pie, a pie filled with purple yam. I’m vegetarian and struggled to find non-meat options, but am still glad I popped in for the Jollibee experience.
Prepare to Have Your Bag Scanned Lots
In the Philippines, there are airport-like security screenings for entering many malls, big hotels and some landmarks. So be prepared to hand over any bags to be scanned entering these buildings.
Bring Cash
While most establishments in Manila accept physical and digital credit and debit cards, it’s a different story on the smaller islands. Most stores only accept cash payments, so exchange money before you head or take money out of an ATM. The currency in the Philippines is the peso. As of writing this, $1AUD is about 38 Philippines pesos.
Related: Tastemaker Alyce Tran on the Best Spots to Eat, Stay and Play in London
Related: From Tourist-Primed, to Secluded Secrets, 19 Greek Islands to Visit
Read more stories from The Latch and subscribe to our email newsletter.
